12. Romi

Chapter 12

Romi

I'm sitting in Sullivan's living room, nestled comfortably in his oversized armchair with one leg draped over the side. The new mystery thriller I've been dying to read rests on my lap while Angus snores softly on the floor in front of me.

A soft, golden light spills across the room as the late afternoon sun drifts through the wide bay windows.

But my tranquility is short-lived as my phone rings shrilly, vibrating its way closer across the side table. Glancing at the screen, I see it's Yvette, my sister. Darn it. I've been meaning to call her, but I've never found the time. Frustration collides with curiosity as I finger-swipe to answer, pressing it to my ear.

"Hey, Vette," I greet, trying to figure out how to tell her I'm pretty much living with a man.

"Where are you?" comes her immediate demand, bypassing any pleasantries or casual small talk. Her voice is edged with impatience and a hint of bewilderment.

Confused, I frown and glance around at my current setting. Angus lets out a little snore, still dreaming, blissfully unaware of the familial drama about to unfold. "What do you mean, ‘Where am I?'" I counter, sounding more nonchalant than I feel.

"I'm at your apartment, Romi, standing here in your very much empty living room, and your landlady just told me you don't stay here very much." Her voice has that familiar edge of an older sister out to set the universe right.

Sinking further into the chair, I mentally brace myself for what's about to unfold. "Wait, what are you doing in Midnight Falls?"

"I'm here to surprise you!" my sister huffs, her exasperation punctuated by the unmistakable background noise of a low conversation with Ms. Viola, who's no doubt adding her own colorful commentary. "But it looks like you're the one with the surprise."

My initial bewilderment gives way to a prickling realization—I'm going to have to spill all the beans about Sullivan, the shift in my living situation, and the shift in my life to the last person I thought would just drop in.

"Okay, give me a minute," I say, trying to keep the mood light as I grapple with the quick change of plans. "I'm at Sullivan's. I'll text you his address."

"Sullivan? Who the freaking hell is Sullivan?" Her voice peaks with a mix of curiosity and thinly veiled alarm that only siblings can manage seamlessly.

"The man who owns my heart," I say, deciding there's no better time for full disclosure. Angus stirs at my feet, opening one eye as if assessing the approval of this reveal.

There's a pause on Yvette's end, and I grit my teeth waiting for the explosion. "Alright. I'll be there soon." Oof. It's even worse knowing I'll have to deal with the fallout in person.

After sending her Sullivan's address, I text Sullivan and let him know my sister is in town.

Me

Yvette showed up at Ms. Viola's unexpectedly.

Caveman

What happened? Are you okay?

Me

She's on her way here now.

Caveman

I'll be there in five minutes. I love you, little treat.

Me

I love you, too.

There's a whole gaggle of emotions swirling within me. Excitement, apprehension, and the looming drama of my sister's wrath all tangled up in a big ball of complicated yarn. I scratch Angus's ears contemplatively, his reassuring presence lessening the initial spike of anxiety.

"Here we go, buddy," I murmur, and he thumps his tail empathetically. "Hopefully, there's no bloodshed by the time today is over."

I hear Sullivan's monster truck pull up and breathe a sigh of relief. "Hey, little treat," he calls out, stepping into the living room. When he wraps his arms around me and pulls me close for his kiss, I forget about the coming storm and melt against him.

"I needed that," I respond when he pulls back. My heart nearly bursts from my chest as I attempt to rein in the nerves bubbling up inside me like a lava lamp. "Are you ready to deal with Hurricane Yvette?"

"Don't worry, little treat, everything will be fine," he assures me, but without skipping a beat, his eyes search mine, settling with familiarity and warmth. "I'll face anything to keep you. Even an overprotective older sister."

I chuckle, grateful for the levity he offers amidst my tempest of concerns. "You say that now, but wait until you meet her."

"Nothing will ever take you away from me. Don't worry, I'll win over your sister. I mean, how can she resist this adorable face?" He pastes the silliest expression on his handsome face, and I can't help but laugh at his antics.

Time flies and soon enough, there's the sound of a car pulling up the driveway. I peer out just in time to see Yvette step out, scrutinizing the surroundings with a hawk-like attention to detail. Sullivan takes my hand in his and opens the door as she reaches the porch.

"Yvette!" I announce, enveloping her in a quick hug before she has time to attack. Her sharp gaze shifts to Sullivan, evaluating, weighing as she hugs me back.

"So, this is Sullivan," Yvette states, eyes darting between us, assessing the situation.

Sullivan exchanges a polite handshake with a glaring Yvette.

"So…" Yvette pauses, releasing his hand with a half-smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes yet. "Why am I just finding out about you?"

Sullivan, bless him, offers a generous grin, the kind that signifies understanding. "I guess I've been keeping Romi so busy that she didn't have time to call you. I apologize for the confusion," he quips amiably. Angus, as always, nudges forward with animal intuition, offering Yvette his puppy-dog eyes full force.

Her tough gaze softens as she bends down to scratch his ears—inevitable chemistry easing into warmth, muttering a faint, "Aren't you a cute guy."

"Okay, here's what we're going to do," Yvette announces as she straightens, directing her focus back to Sullivan. You know it's serious when Angus isn't enough to distract. "I'm going to change my plans and stay in town for a few days to see for myself if my sister is okay with you. If I get any warning signs at all, I'll drag her back to Houston before you can blink."

"You're welcome to stay as long as you want, but no one is ever taking Romi away from me." Sullivan doesn't let my sister intimidate him. "I would never come between sisters, so you're going to have to work with me here."

"If you hurt my sister, I'll be your worst enemy." Yvette, a corporate attorney, isn't one to let a man get one over on her.

"You don't have to worry about that. Romi owns me, heart and soul. I would cut off my own arm before I hurt her," Sullivan declares, managing charm and sincerity in the unorthodox balance that makes his confidence so irresistible.

"We'll see." It surprises me to see my sister actually back down a little.